Process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising thermal postcrosslinking in a contact dryer having external heated outer surfaces.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/694,282, filed Aug. 29, 2012, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising thermal postcrosslinking in a contact dryer having external heated outer surfaces.

Water-absorbing polymer particles are used to produce diapers, tampons, sanitary napkins and other hygiene articles, but also as water-retaining agents in market gardening. The water-absorbing polymer particles are often also referred to as “absorbent resins”, “superabsorbents”, “superabsorbent polymers”, “absorbent polymers”, “absorbent gelling materials”, “hydrophilic polymers” or “hydrogels”.

The production of water-absorbing polymer particles is described in the monograph “Modern Superabsorbent Polymer Technology”, F. L. Buchholz and A. T. Graham, Wiley-VCH, 1998, pages 71 to 103. A schematic drawing of a conventional through-circulation belt dryer having a crusher at the dryer exit can be found on page 89.

US 2009/0321682 describes a color sorting technique for removing foreign matters from water-absorbing polymer particles.

It was an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles without forming colored foreign matter.

The object was achieved by a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization of a monomer solution or suspension, comprising

a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer which bears acid groups and may be at least partly neutralized,

b) at least one crosslinker,

c) at least one initiator,

d) optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers copolymerizable with the monomers mentioned under a) and

e) optionally one or more water-soluble polymers,

drying, grinding and classifying the resulting polymer gel, applying of at least one postcrosslinker onto the water-absorbing polymer particles, thermal postcrosslinking and cooling, wherein the application of the postcrosslinker is performed in a mixer with moving mixing tools, the thermal postcrosslinking is performed in a contact dryer, the cooling is performed in contact cooler and the outer surfaces of the contact dryer are external heated.

The present invention further provides an apparatus for postcrosslinking of water-absorbing polymer particles comprising a mixer with moving mixing tools, a contact dryer and a contact cooler wherein the outer surfaces of the contact dryer can be external heated.

External heating of the outer surfaces (heat-tracing) means heating of all surfaces that can cause heat losses through the walls of the apparatus to the environment including walls that do have contact with vapor only and do not have contact with the product. Due to the limited contact with the product heating of such surfaces do not contribute substantial to the heating of the product itself. So, the external heating of the contact dryer is different from the heating of the contact dryer. It is important that all of the outer surfaces of the contact dryer are external heated.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention further the outer surfaces of the joint from the mixer to the contact dryer, the contact dryer itself and the joint from the contact dryer to the contact cooler are external heated.

In a more preferred embodiment of the present invention the external heating is performed in a way that the temperature of the external heating is higher than the temperature of the water-absorbing polymer particles at the outlet of the contact dryer. The of the external heating is preferably at least 10°, more preferably at least 20°, most preferably at least 25° C., higher than the temperature of the water-absorbing polymer particles at the outlet of the contact dryer.

In a most preferred embodiment of the present invention the water-absorbing polymer particles are gravimetrical conveyed from the mixer to the contact dryer and from the contact dryer to the contact cooler.

The external heating can be done by electric heat-tracing or with steam (steam-tracing). Preference is given here to steam since the temperature of the steam can be adjusted in a very simple manner via the pressure. This can be accomplished, for example, by decompressing relatively high-pressure steam with subsequent saturation of the superheated water vapor thus obtained.

The steam has a pressure of preferably at least 11 bar, more preferably of at least 16 bar, most preferably of at least 24 bar.

The present invention is based on the finding that the postcrosslinker partly vaporize during the thermal postcrosslinking in the contact dryer. The postcrosslinkers do have a high boiling point so that such formed vapors can condensate on hot inner walls. Due to the high temperature and due of the high residence time, the droplets are burned to brown or black specks that fall into the product forming colored foreign matter in the water-absorbing polymer particles, in particular on switching products, changing the production condition or restarting the production. The formation of brown or black specs maybe does not occur initially but eventually after several weeks of operation.

The mixer is preferably a vertical mixer, the contact dryer is preferably a paddle dryer and the contact cooler is preferably a paddle cooler.

FIGS. 1 to 3 show schematic drawings of inventive apparatus for postcrosslinking.

In this figures, the reference symbols are defined as follows:

1 a: horizontal mixer

1 b: vertical mixer

2: paddle dryer

3: paddle cooler

4: joint from the mixer to the paddle dryer

5: joint from the paddle dryer to the paddle cooler

6: weir

The production of the water-absorbing polymer particles is described in detail hereinafter:

The water-absorbing polymer particles are produced by polymerizing a monomer solution or suspension, and are typically water-insoluble.

The monomers a) are preferably water-soluble, i.e. the solubility in water at 23° C. is typically at least 1 g/100 g of water, preferably at least 5 g/100 g of water, more preferably at least 25 g/100 g of water and most preferably at least 35 g/100 g of water.

Suitable monomers a) are, for example, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and itaconic acid. Particularly preferred monomers are acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. Very particular preference is given to acrylic acid.

Further suitable monomers a) are, for example, ethylenically unsaturated sulfonic acids, such as styrenesulfonic acid and 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid (AMPS).

Impurities can have a considerable influence on the polymerization. The raw materials used should therefore have a maximum purity. It is therefore often advantageous to specially purify the monomers a). Suitable purification processes are described, for example, in WO 2002/055469 A1, WO 2003/078378 A1 and WO 2004/035514 A1. A suitable monomer a) is, for example, acrylic acid purified according to WO 2004/035514 A1 and comprising 99.8460% by weight of acrylic acid, 0.0950% by weight of acetic acid, 0.0332% by weight of water, 0.0203% by weight of propionic acid, 0.0001% by weight of furfurals, 0.0001% by weight of maleic anhydride, 0.0003% by weight of diacrylic acid and 0.0050% by weight of hydroquinone monomethyl ether.

The proportion of acrylic acid and/or salts thereof in the total amount of monomers a) is preferably at least 50 mol %, more preferably at least 90 mol %, most preferably at least 95 mol %.

The monomers a) typically comprise polymerization inhibitors, preferably hydroquinone monoethers, as storage stabilizers.

The monomer solution comprises preferably up to 250 ppm by weight, preferably at most 130 ppm by weight, more preferably at most 70 ppm by weight, and preferably at least 10 ppm by weight, more preferably at least 30 ppm by weight and especially around 50 ppm by weight, of hydroquinone monoether, based in each case on the unneutralized monomer a). For example, the monomer solution can be prepared by using an ethylenically unsaturated monomer bearing acid groups with an appropriate content of hydroquinone monoether.

Preferred hydroquinone monoethers are hydroquinone monomethyl ether (MEHQ) and/or alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E).

Suitable crosslinkers b) are compounds having at least two groups suitable for crosslinking. Such groups are, for example, ethylenically unsaturated groups which can be polymerized free-radically into the polymer chain, and functional groups which can form covalent bonds with the acid groups of the monomer a). In addition, polyvalent metal salts which can form coordinate bonds with at least two acid groups of the monomer a) are also suitable as crosslinkers b).

Crosslinkers b) are preferably compounds having at least two polymerizable groups which can be polymerized free-radically into the polymer network. Suitable crosslinkers b) are, for example, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, allyl methacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, triallylamine, tetraallylammonium chloride, tetraallyloxyethane, as described in EP 0 530 438 A1, di- and triacrylates, as described in EP 0 547 847 A1, EP 0 559 476 A1, EP 0 632 068 A1, WO 93/21237 A1, WO 2003/104299 A1, WO 2003/104300 A1, WO 2003/104301 A1 and DE 103 31 450 A1, mixed acrylates which, as well as acrylate groups, comprise further ethylenically unsaturated groups, as described in DE 103 31 456 A1 and DE 103 55 401 A1, or crosslinker mixtures, as described, for example, in DE 195 43 368 A1, DE 196 46 484 A1, WO 90/15830 A1 and WO 2002/032962 A2.

Preferred crosslinkers b) are pentaerythrityl triallyl ether, tetraallyloxyethane, methylenebismethacrylamide, 15-tuply ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate and triallylamine.

Very particularly preferred crosslinkers b) are the polyethoxylated and/or—propoxylated glycerols which have been esterified with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid to give di- or triacrylates, as described, for example, in WO 2003/104301 A1. Di- and/or triacrylates of 3- to 10-tuply ethoxylated glycerol are particularly advantageous. Very particular preference is given to di- or triacrylates of 1- to 5-tuply ethoxylated and/or propoxylated glycerol. Most preferred are the triacrylates of 3- to 5-tuply ethoxylated and/or propoxylated glycerol, especially the triacrylate of 3-tuply ethoxylated glycerol.

The amount of crosslinker b) is preferably 0.05 to 1.5% by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 1% by weight and most preferably 0.3 to 0.6% by weight, based in each case on monomer a). With rising crosslinker content, the centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) falls and the absorption under a pressure of 21.0 g/cm² passes through a maximum.

The initiators c) used may be all compounds which generate free radicals under the polymerization conditions, for example thermal initiators, redox initiators, photoinitiators. Suitable redox initiators are sodium peroxodisulfate/ascorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid, sodium peroxodisulfate/sodium bisulfite and hydrogen peroxide/sodium bisulfite. Preference is given to using mixtures of thermal initiators and redox initiators, such as sodium peroxodisulfate/hydrogen peroxide/ascorbic acid. However, the reducing component used is preferably disodium 2-hydroxy-2-sulfonatoacetate or a mixture of disodium 2-hydroxy-2- sulfinatoacetate, disodium 2-hydroxy-2-sulfonatoacetate and sodium bisulfite. Such mixtures are obtainable as Brüggolite® FF6 and Brüggolite® FF7 (Brüggemann Chemicals; Heilbronn; Germany).

Ethylenically unsaturated monomers d) copolymerizable with the ethylenically unsaturated monomers a) bearing acid groups are, for example, acrylamide, methacrylamide, hydroxyethyl acrylate, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, dimethylaminoethyl acrylate, dimethylaminopropyl acrylate, diethylaminopropyl acrylate, dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate, diethylaminoethyl methacrylate.

The water-soluble polymers e) used may be polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylpyrrolidone, starch, starch derivatives, modified cellulose, such as methylcellulose or hydroxyethylcellulose, gelatin, polyglycols or polyacrylic acids, preferably starch, starch derivatives and modified cellulose.

Typically, an aqueous monomer solution is used. The water content of the monomer solution is preferably from 40 to 75% by weight, more preferably from 45 to 70% by weight and most preferably from 50 to 65% by weight. It is also possible to use monomer suspensions, i.e. monomer solutions with excess monomer a), for example sodium acrylate. With rising water content, the energy requirement in the subsequent drying rises, and, with falling water content, the heat of polymerization can only be removed inadequately.

For optimal action, the preferred polymerization inhibitors require dissolved oxygen. The monomer solution can therefore be freed of dissolved oxygen before the polymerization by inertization, i.e. flowing an inert gas through, preferably nitrogen or carbon dioxide. The oxygen content of the monomer solution is preferably lowered before the polymerization to less than 1 ppm by weight, more preferably to less than 0.5 ppm by weight, most preferably to less than 0.1 ppm by weight.

For better control of the polymerization reaction, it is optionally possible to add all known chelating agents to the monomer solution or suspension or to the raw materials thereof. Suitable chelating agents are, for example, phosphoric acid, diphosphoric acid, triphosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, or salts thereof.

Further suitable examples are iminodiacetic acid, hydroxyethyliminodiacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, nitrilotripropionic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, triethylenetetraaminehexaacetic acid, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine and trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexanetetraacetic acid, and salts thereof. The amount used is typically 1 to 30 000 ppm based on the monomers a), preferably 10 to 1000 ppm, preferentially 20 to 600 ppm, more preferably 50 to 400 ppm, most preferably 100 to 300 ppm.

The monomer solution or suspension is polymerized. Suitable reactors are, for example, kneading reactors or belt reactors. In the kneader, the polymer gel formed in the polymerization of an aqueous monomer solution or suspension is comminuted continuously by, for example, contrarotatory stirrer shafts, as described in WO 2001/038402 A1. Polymerization on the belt is described, for example, in DE 38 25 366 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,928. Polymerization in a belt reactor forms a polymer gel which has to be comminuted in a further process step, for example in an extruder or kneader.

To improve the drying properties, the comminuted polymer gel obtained by means of a kneader can additionally be extruded.

The acid groups of the resulting polymer gels have typically been partially neutralized. Neutralization is preferably carried out at the monomer stage. This is typically accomplished by mixing in the neutralizing agent as an aqueous solution or preferably also as a solid. The degree of neutralization is preferably from 50 to 90 mol %, more preferably from 60 to 85 mol % and most preferably from 65 to 80 mol %, for which the customary neutralizing agents can be used, preferably alkali metal hydroxides, alkali metal oxides, alkali metal carbonates or alkali metal hydrogencarbonates and also mixtures thereof. Instead of alkali metal salts, it is also possible to use ammonium salts. Particularly preferred alkali metals are sodium and potassium, but very particular preference is given to sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate or sodium hydrogencarbonate and also mixtures thereof.

However, it is also possible to carry out neutralization after the polymerization, at the stage of the polymer gel formed in the polymerization. It is also possible to neutralize up to 40 mol %, preferably from 10 to 30 mo l% and more preferably from 15 to 25 mol % of the acid groups before the polymerization by adding a portion of the neutralizing agent actually to the monomer solution and setting the desired final degree of neutralization only after the polymerization, at the polymer gel stage. When the polymer gel is neutralized at least partly after the polymerization, the polymer gel is preferably comminuted mechanically, for example by means of an extruder, in which case the neutralizing agent can be sprayed, sprinkled or poured on and then carefully mixed in. To this end, the gel mass obtained can be repeatedly extruded for homogenization.

The resulting polymer gel is dried on a through-circulation belt dryer until the residual moisture content is preferably 0.5 to 10% by weight, more preferably 1 to 7% by weight and most preferably 2 to 5% by weight, the residual moisture content being determined by EDANA recommended test method No. WSP 230.2-05 “Mass Loss Upon Heating”. In the case of too high a residual moisture content, the dried polymer gel has too low a glass transition temperature T_(g) and can be processed further only with difficulty. In the case of too low a residual moisture content, the dried polymer gel is too brittle and, in the subsequent crushing and grinding steps, undesirably large amounts of polymer particles with an excessively low particle size are obtained (“fines”). The solids content of the gel before the drying is preferably from 25 to 90% by weight, more preferably from 35 to 70% by weight and most preferably from 40 to 60% by weight. The dried polymer gel is crushed for pre-sizing. The crusher may be part of the through-circulation belt dryer.

Subsequently, the pre-sized polymer gel is ground and classified. The apparatus used for grinding may typically be single- or multistage roll mills, preferably two- or three-stage roll mills, pin mills, hammer mills or vibratory mills.

The mean particle size of the polymer particles removed as the product fraction is preferably at least 200 μm, more preferably from 250 to 600 μm and very particularly from 300 to 500 μm. The mean particle size of the product fraction may be determined by means of EDANA recommended test method No. WSP 220.2-05 “Particle Size Distribution”, where the proportions by mass of the screen fractions are plotted in cumulated form and the mean particle size is determined graphically. The mean particle size here is the value of the mesh size which gives rise to a cumulative 50% by weight.

The proportion of particles with a particle size of at least 150 μm is preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, most preferably at least 98% by weight.

Polymer particles with too small a particle size lower the saline flow conductivity (SFC). The proportion of excessively small polymer particles (“fines”) should therefore be low.

Excessively small polymer particles are therefore typically removed and recycled into the process. This is preferably done before, during or immediately after the polymerization, i.e. before the drying of the polymer gel. The excessively small polymer particles can be moistened with water and/or aqueous surfactant before or during the recycling.

It is also possible to remove excessively small polymer particles in later process steps, for example after the surface postcrosslinking or another coating step. In this case, the excessively small polymer particles recycled are surface postcrosslinked or coated in another way, for example with fumed silica.

When a kneading reactor is used for polymerization, the excessively small polymer particles are preferably added during the last third of the polymerization.

When the excessively small polymer particles are added at a very early stage, for example actually to the monomer solution, this lowers the centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of the resulting water-absorbing polymer particles. However, this can be compensated for, for example, by adjusting the amount of crosslinker b) used.

When the excessively small polymer particles are added at a very late stage, for example not until an apparatus connected downstream of the polymerization reactor, for example an extruder, the excessively small polymer particles can be incorporated into the resulting polymer gel only with difficulty. Insufficiently incorporated, excessively small polymer particles are, however, detached again from the dried polymer gel during the grinding, are therefore removed again in the course of classification and increase the amount of excessively small polymer particles to be recycled.

The proportion of particles having a particle size of at most 850 μm is preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, most preferably at least 98% by weight.

The proportion of particles having a particle size of at most 600 μm is preferably at least 90% by weight, more preferably at least 95% by weight, most preferably at least 98% by weight.

Polymer particles of excessively large particle size lower the free swell rate. The proportion of excessively large polymer particles should therefore likewise be small.

Excessively large polymer particles are therefore typically removed and recycled into the grinding of the dried polymer gel.

To improve the properties, the polymer particles are subsequently be thermally postcrosslinked. Suitable postcrosslinkers are compounds which comprise groups which can form covalent bonds with at least two acid groups of the polymer particles. Suitable compounds are, for example, polyfunctional amines, polyfunctional amido amines, polyfunctional epoxides, as described in EP 0 083 022 A2, EP 0 543 303 A1 and EP 0 937 736 A2, di- or polyfunctional alcohols, as described in DE 33 14 019 A1, DE 35 23 617 A1 and EP 0 450 922 A2, or β-hydroxyalkylamides, as described in DE 102 04 938 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,239,230.

Additionally described as suitable postcrosslinkers are cyclic carbonates in DE 40 20 780 C1, 2-oxazolidinone and derivatives thereof, such as 2-hydroxyethyl-2-oxazolidinone, in DE 198 07 502 A1, bis- and poly-2-oxazolidinones in DE 198 07 992 C1, 2-oxotetrahydro-1,3-oxazine and derivatives thereof in DE 198 54 573 A1, N-acyl-2-oxazolidinones in DE 198 54 574 A1, cyclic ureas in DE 102 04 937 A1, bicyclic amide acetals in DE 103 34 584 A1, oxetanes and cyclic ureas in EP 1 199 327 A2 and morpholine-2,3-dione and derivatives thereof in WO 2003/031482 A1.

Preferred postcrosslinkers are ethylene carbonate, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, reaction products of polyamides with epichlorohydrin and mixtures of propylene glycol and 1,4-butanediol.

Very particularly preferred postcrosslinkers are 2-hydroxyethyloxazolidin-2-one, oxazolidin-2-one and 1,3-propanediol.

In addition, it is also possible to use postcrosslinkers which comprise additional polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated groups, as described in DE 37 13 601 A1.

The amount of postcrosslinker is preferably 0.001 to 2% by weight, more preferably 0.02 to 1% by weight and most preferably 0.05 to 0.2% by weight, based in each case on the polymer particles.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, polyvalent cations are applied to the particle surface in addition to the postcrosslinkers before, during or after the postcrosslinking.

The polyvalent cations usable in the process according to the invention are, for example, divalent cations such as the cations of zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron and strontium, trivalent cations such as the cations of aluminum, iron, chromium, rare earths and manganese, tetravalent cations such as the cations of titanium and zirconium. Possible counterions are chloride, bromide, sulfate, hydrogensulfate, carbonate, hydrogencarbonate, nitrate, phosphate, hydrogenphosphate, dihydrogenphosphate and carboxylate, such as acetate and lactate. Aluminum sulfate and aluminum lactate are preferred. Apart from metal salts, it is also possible to use polyamines as polyvalent cations.

The amount of polyvalent cation used is, for example, 0.001 to 1.5% by weight, preferably 0.005 to 1% by weight and more preferably 0.02 to 0.8% by weight, based in each case on the polymer particles.

The postcrosslinking is typically performed in such a way that a solution of the postcrosslinker is sprayed onto the dried polymer particles. After the spray application, the polymer particles coated with postcrosslinker are dried thermally, and the postcrosslinking reaction can take place either before or during the drying.

The spray application of a solution of the postcrosslinker is performed in mixers with moving mixing tools, such as screw mixers, disk mixers and paddle mixers. Particular preference is given to horizontal mixers such as paddle mixers, very particular preference to vertical mixers. The distinction between horizontal mixers and vertical mixers is made by the position of the mixing shaft, i.e. horizontal mixers have a horizontally mounted mixing shaft and vertical mixers a vertically mounted mixing shaft. Suitable mixers are, for example, horizontal Pflugschar® plowshare mixers (Gebr. Lödige Maschinenbau GmbH; Paderborn; Germany), Vrieco-Nauta continuous mixers (Hosokawa Micron BV; Doetinchem; the Netherlands), Processall Mixmill mixers (Processall Incorporated; Cincinnati; USA) and Schugi Flexomix® (Hosokawa Micron BV; Doetinchem; the Netherlands).

The postcrosslinkers are typically used in the form of an aqueous solution. The penetration depth of the surface postcrosslinker into the polymer particles can be adjusted via the content of nonaqueous solvent and total amount of solvent.

When exclusively water is used as the solvent, a surfactant is advantageously added. This improves the wetting behavior and reduces the tendency to form lumps. However, preference is given to using solvent mixtures, for example isopropanol/water, 1,3-propanediol/water and propylene glycol/water, where the mixing ratio in terms of mass is preferably from 20:80 to 40:60.

The thermal postcrosslinking is performed in contact dryers, more preferably paddle dryers, most preferably disk dryers. Suitable dryers are, for example, Hosokawa Bepex® Horizontal Paddle Dryer (Hosokawa Micron GmbH; Leingarten; Germany), Hosokawa Bepex® Disc Dryer (Hosokawa Micron GmbH; Leingarten; Germany) and Nara Paddle Dryer (NARA Machinery Europe; Frechen; Germany).

Preferred postcrosslinking temperatures are in the range of 100 to 250° C., preferably 120 to 220° C., more preferably 130 to 210° C. and most preferably 150 to 200° C. The preferred residence time at this temperature in the contact dryer is preferably at least 10 minutes, more preferably at least 20 minutes, most preferably at least 30 minutes, and typically at most 60 minutes.

The cooling is performed in contact coolers, more preferably paddle coolers, most preferably disk coolers. Suitable dryers are, for example, Hosokawa Bepex® Horizontal Paddle Cooler (Hosokawa Micron GmbH; Leingarten; Germany), Hosokawa Bepex® Disc Cooler (Hosokawa Micron GmbH; Leingarten; Germany) and Nara Paddle Cooler (NARA Machinery Europe; Frechen; Germany).

Preferred cooling temperatures are in the range of 20 to 150° C., preferably 30 to 120° C., more preferably 40 to 100° C. and most preferably 50 to 80° C.

Subsequently, the postcrosslinked polymer particles can be classified again, excessively small and/or excessively large polymer particles being removed and recycled into the process.

To further improve the properties, the postcrosslinked polymer particles can be coated or remoisturized.

The remoisturizing is preferably performed at 30 to 80° C., more preferably at 35 to 70° C., most preferably at 40 to 60° C. At excessively low temperatures, the water-absorbing polymer particles tend to form lumps, and, at higher temperatures, water already evaporates to a noticeable degree. The amount of water used for remoisturizing is preferably from 1 to 10% by weight, more preferably from 2 to 8% by weight and most preferably from 3 to 5% by weight. The remoisturizing increases the mechanical stability of the polymer particles and reduces their tendency to static charging.

Suitable coatings for improving the free swell rate and the saline flow conductivity (SFC) are, for example, inorganic inert substances, such as water-insoluble metal salts, organic polymers, cationic polymers and di- or polyvalent metal cations. Suitable coatings for dust binding are, for example, polyols. Suitable coatings for counteracting the undesired caking tendency of the polymer particles are, for example, fumed silica, such as Aerosil® 200, and surfactants, such as Span® 20.

The water-absorbing polymer particles produced by the process according to the invention have a centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of typically at least 15 g/g, preferably at least 20 g/g, more preferably at least 22 g/g, especially preferably at least 24 g/g and most preferably at least 26 g/g. The centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of the water-absorbing polymer particles is typically less than 60 g/g. The centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) is determined by EDANA recommended test method No. WSP 241.2-05 “Fluid Retention Capacity in Saline, After Centrifugation”.

The water-absorbing polymer particles produced by the process according to the invention have an absorption under a pressure of 49.2 g/cm² of typically at least 15 g/g, preferably at least 20 g/g, more preferably at least 22 g/g, especially preferably at least 24 g/g and most preferably at least 26 g/g. The absorption under a pressure of 49.2 g/cm² of the water-absorbing polymer particles is typically less than 35 g/g. The absorption under a pressure of 49.2 g/cm² is determined analogously to EDANA recommended test method No. WSP 242.2-05 “Absorption under Pressure, Gravimetric Determination”, except that a pressure of 49.2 g/cm² is established instead of a pressure of 21.0 g/cm².

METHODS

The measurements should, unless stated otherwise, be carried out at an ambient temperature of 23±2° C. and a relative air humidity of 50±10%. The water-absorbing polymer particles are mixed thoroughly before the measurement.

Centrifuge Retention Capacity

The centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of the water-absorbing polymer particles is determined by EDANA recommended test method No. WSP 241.2-05 “Centrifuge Retention Capacity”.

The EDANA test methods are obtainable, for example, from EDANA, Avenue Eugene Plasky 157, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Comparative Example

By continuously mixing deionized water, 50% by weight sodium hydroxide solution and acrylic acid, an acrylic acid/sodium acrylate solution was prepared, such that the degree of neutralization corresponds to 71.3 mol %. The solids content of the monomer solution was 38.8% by weight.

The polyethylenically unsaturated crosslinker used was polyethylene glycol-400 diacrylate (diacrylate proceeding from a polyethylene glycol with a mean molar mass of 400 g/mol). The amount used was 2 kg of crosslinker per t of monomer solution.

To initiate the free-radical polymerization, 1.03 kg of a 0.25% by weight aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, 3.10 kg of a 15% by weight aqueous sodium peroxodisulfate solution and 1.05 kg of a 1% by weight aqueous ascorbic acid solution were used per t of monomer solution.

The throughput of the monomer solution was 20 t/h. The reaction solution had a temperature of 23.5° C. at the feed.

The individual components were metered in the following amounts continuously into a List Contikneter continuous kneader reactor with a capacity of 6.3 m³ (LIST AG, Arisdorf, Switzerland):

20 t/h of monomer solution

40 kg/h of polyethylene glycol-400 diacrylate

82.6 kg/h of hydrogen peroxide solution/sodium peroxodisulfate solution

21 kg/h of ascorbic acid solution

Between the addition point for the crosslinker and the addition sites for the initiators, the monomer solution was inertized with nitrogen.

After approx. 50% of the residence time, a metered addition of fines (1000 kg/h), which were obtained from the production process by grinding and screening, to the reactor additionally took place. The residence time of the reaction mixture in the reactor was 15 minutes.

The resulting polymer gel was placed onto a belt dryer. On the belt dryer, an air/gas mixture flowed continuously around the polymer gel and dried it. The residence time in the belt dryer was 37 minutes.

The dried polymer gel was ground and screened off to a particle size fraction of 150 to 850 μm. The resulting base polymer was surface postcrosslinked.

In a Schugi Flexomix® (Hosokawa Micron B.V., Doetinchem, the Netherlands), the base polymer was coated with a surface postcrosslinker solution and then dried in a NARA paddle dryer (GMF Gouda, Waddinxveen, the Netherlands) at 155° C. for 45 minutes. The paddle dryer was heated with steam having a pressure of 24 bar (220° C.).

The following amounts were metered into the Schugi Flexomix®:

7.5 t/h of base polymer

308.25 kg/h of surface postcrosslinker solution

The surface postcrosslinker solution comprised 2.7% by weight of ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, 24.3% by weight of propylene glycol and 63.0% by weight of deionized water.

After being dried, the surface postcrosslinked base polymer was cooled to approx. 60° C. in a NARA paddle cooler (GMF Gouda, Waddinxveen, the Netherlands).

The resulting water-absorbing polymer particles had a centrifuge retention capacity (CRC) of 30.1 g/g. The product comprises colored foreign matter in the form of brown or black specks.

Example 2

Example 1 was repeated, except that the outer surfaces of the paddle dryer itself was external heated. The external heating was performed with steam having a pressure of 24 bar (220° C.).

The product comprises some brown or black specks.

Example 3

Example 1 was repeated, except that the outer surfaces of the joint from the mixer to the paddle dryer, the paddle dryer itself and the joint from the paddle dryer to the paddle cooler are external heated. The external heating was performed with steam having a pressure of 24 bar (220° C.).

Also after several weeks of operation the product did not comprise any brown or black specks. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerizing a monomer solution or suspension, comprising a) at least one ethylenically unsaturated monomer which bears an acid group and may be at least partly neutralized, b) at least one crosslinker, c) at least one initiator, d) optionally one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with the monomer mentioned under a) and e) optionally one or more water-soluble polymer, drying, grinding, and classifying the resulting polymer gel, applying of at least one postcrosslinker onto the water-absorbing polymer particles, thermal postcrosslinking, and cooling, wherein the application of the postcrosslinker is performed in a mixer with moving mixing tools, the thermal postcrosslinking is performed in a contact dryer, the cooling is performed in contact cooler, and the outer surfaces of the contact dryer are external heated.
 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein outer surfaces of a joint from the mixer to the contact dryer and a joint from the contact dryer to the contact cooler are external heated.
 3. The process according to claim 1, wherein a temperature of the external heating is higher than a temperature of the water-absorbing polymer particles at an outlet of the contact dryer.
 4. The process according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of the external heating is at least 20° C. higher than the temperature of the water-absorbing polymer particles at the outlet of the contact dryer.
 5. The process according to claim 1, wherein the external heating is performed with steam.
 6. The process according to claim 5, wherein the external heating is performed with steam having a pressure of at least 16 bar.
 7. The process according to claim 1, wherein the contact dryer is paddle dryer.
 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the water-absorbing polymer particles are gravimetrical conveyed from the mixer to the contact dryer and from the contact dryer to the contact cooler.
 9. The process according to claim 1, wherein the water-absorbing polymer particles have a centrifuge retention capacity of at least 15 g/g.
 10. An apparatus for postcrosslinking water-absorbing polymer particles comprising a mixer with moving mixing tools, a contact dryer, and a contact cooler, wherein outer surfaces of the contact dryer are external heated.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein further outer surfaces of a joint from the mixer to the contact dryer and a joint from the contact dryer to the contact cooler are external heated.
 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the external heating is performed with steam.
 13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contact dryer is a paddle dryer.
 14. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the mixer is a vertical mixer.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the contact cooler is a paddle cooler. 